Large patrol craft for Navy launched→ Staff CorrespondentThe first Large Patrol Craft (LPC) for Bangladesh Navy, being constructed in China, was launched at Wuchang Shipyard in China on Sunday. ispr PHOTO

Captain AM Quamrul Huq, as the representative of Bangladesh Navy, Assistant Defence Attaché (Navy) of Bangladesh Embassy in China, high officials from the Chinese side and representatives from Bangladesh community in Wuhan were present at the ceremony, says an ISPR release.

The BN Large Patrol Craft have an overall length of 64m and displacement 648 tons at a top speed of 28 knots.

Each LPC has been armed with Surface-to-Surface Missile, Guns and Subsurface Weapons integrated with command and control system, including the state-of-the-art combat, navigation, communication systems and other sophisticated machinery and equipment.

These Large Patrol Crafts have been constructed to suit Bangladesh Navy’s specific requirements and are highly potent platforms.

Their mission spans the entire spectrum of naval warfare, including Air, Surface and Sub-surface. They will be primarily deployed to perform maritime defence and surveillance in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of Bangladesh.

They will also be used for maritime search and rescue, fishery and natural resources protection, as well as law enforcement duties.

The second warship under the present project is expected to be launched soon. After necessary tests and trials, the ships will soon join BN Flotilla in Bangladesh.

Through this, Bangladesh would step ahead in implementing the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s vision of a stronger navy.

The present government has taken up a detailed plan for induction of various warships, helicopter and aircraft to upgrade the navy into a three dimensional force. This shipbuilding project would also enhance Bangladesh-China friendship, the release added.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

There are two under construction -- they are sporting a new 130mm main gun and a set of much larger radar arrays

According to people who have seen the ship at HSH here are the observations.

1. Main mast is slightly different on the top, similar to 054A.
2. The space between the aft mast and aft VLS is still there, indicating no extended VLS area and probably still gonna have the two quad pack YJ62.
3. Nothing is installed on top of the hangar, indicating it'll be HQ10 not the deck penetrating 730.
4. Aft mast is the same so it's still the good ole 517 radar.

Here is a interesting diagram showing the main gun is moved forward by a little bit compare to the 052C, also shows how massive the new arrays are.